Manley goes to warp speed
Sophomore posts double-double as Astros top Oak Lawn
Jessica Manley prides herself on being “basketball fast” for Shepard.
That’s different from “track fast,” which the sophomore guard/ forward understands from running the 400-meter dash in the spring.
Which one does she prefer? It’s no contest, in her mind.
“When you’re running on the court, it doesn’t seem as long,” Manley said. “But when you’re running on the track, for some reason, it feels so long. You run forever.”
The 5-foot-10 Manley used her speed and quickness Friday night to record a double-double as the Astros earned a 49-40 South Suburban Red victory over host Oak Lawn.
Manley scored 15 points — including three 3-pointers — and grabbed 10 rebounds for Shepard (12-8, 7-2). Senior forward Emma Greene added 18 points and also made three 3-pointers.
When it comes to Manley, Shepard coach Rick Gamino said the adage is true — you can’t teach speed and quickness. But there’s another factor in play for her.
“She’s very coachable,” Gamino said. “We teach our defense a very intense way, and she believes in that. She knows how important her defense is and how important staying out of foul trouble is.
“She’s able to anticipate and see plays before they happen. She’s got that basketball intuition.”
Oak Lawn (12-12, 6-2), meanwhile, was led in scoring by senior guard Maeve Hassett, who converted five 3-pointers and finished with 17 points and five rebounds. Junior forward Danielle Dempsey added eight points and four rebounds.
This is Manley’s second season on varsity and second as a starter. The difference between the two seasons, however, has been considerable, according to Gamino.
Things that would frustrate Manley last season don’t faze her as much as a sophomore. She continues to get smarter and better at that, which speaks to growing leadership.
It’s something Manley, who looks up to Greene, aspires to be.
“She teaches me to push myself, and if I’m ever in my head or something, she’s always there to calm me down and saying it’s OK,” Manley said of Greene. “She’s a good teammate.”
Greene said Manley is “fearless sophomore,” and one of the best players in the conference. That’s evidenced by the fact she leads the team in scoring, averaging 17 points, and also in rebounds with six.
But there’s more to Manley. At the end of the third quarter Friday, she played in-your-face defense on junior guard Teagan Krzystof, preventing a buzzer-beating 3-pointer.
“I just kind of let her do her own thing and watch,” Greene said. “If
she’s down on herself or if she’s not seeing things I may see, I aid and help her.
“But usually we’re on the same page and have good on court
chemistry, so it’s usually just a few words and we’re locked in on the same thing.”
Manley started in basketball with a Blue Island recreation team and then worked her way up to the Homewood Angels AAU program, where she got to work with coach Timel Moore. He had a big influence on her.
“He really kind of pushed me the years over COVID to learn all the different things,” she said.
Manley’s game plan is to play in college, although as a sophomore, she’s not sure quite yet where she wants to be.
One thing Manley feels she’s sure of is what she wants to study in college — architecture. She would like to design and build houses someday.
“She definitely wants to be playing,” Gamino said of Manley’s next step beyond Shepard. “But we’ll see what happens. She’s got a lot of time to work and continue to get better.
“If she grows the way she did from freshman year to sophomore year, the sky’s the limit.”